The 'Dumb And Dumber' actor - whose last movie role came in 2011's 'Mr. Popper's Penguins' - is in line to appear alongside Steve Carell, who is set to play the titular character in the movie.

The 49-year-old star is set to play a street magician who upstages a Las Vegas illusionist (Steve) after he sacks his partner, Deadline.com reports.

It will not be the first time Steve and Jim have appeared alongside one another on the big screen with the 49-year-old actor playing Evan Baxter in 2003's 'Bruce Almighty', which saw Jim in the titular role.

'Burt Wonderstone' is set to be directed by Don Scardino, with Tyler Mitchell in line to write the story and John Francis Daley set to pen the screenplay for the film.

There are no signs of any penguins in the forthcoming movie, which could attract Jim to the role after he was attacked by the animals while filming 'Mr. Popper's Penguins'.

He previously explained: "I got bit a lot. I got nipped here and there. It was a good thing.

"I loved that dinner scene which was supposed to be them sitting in their chairs just pecking fish off the plates. It was funny because they had the camera in my face and then it would dolly back. We didn't really know what I was going to do with it.

"And they had the wranglers with broom poles separating and holding back the penguins like a horse race or something while their heads were trying to get at the fish. And then they'd go, 'Okay, Jim. Ready? Go!'"